Austin Cindric gets his fifth win of the season in the UNOH 188 at Daytona

If there was a learning lesson in the ARCA Menards Series race last night at the Daytona International Speedway road course, its that road racing experience helps. Saturday afternoon, it was the NASCAR Xfinity Series turn at the 3.56-mile, fourteen turn track for the UNOH 188. A pair of Fords were on the front row Austin Cindric was the pole-sitter, and next to him was Chase Briscoe. Two drivers were sent to the rear of the field to begin the race they were Bobby Reuse (driver change) and Jeffrey Earnhardt (unapproved adjustments). Just like last night in the ARCA race, Mother Nature made her presents known as the race was put on hold for a lightning delay. After an hour and fifty-minutes, it was time to go racing.

History, RIGHT NOW. The #XfinitySeries is racing on the @DISupdates Road Course on NBCSN and streaming at https://t.co/593lUV9Jw2! pic.twitter.com/uT8COGKIM2 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

Right away, both Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe got wide going into turn one but recovered. Heading into the chicane at turns 13 and 14, Chase Briscoe, who was running second, missed the chicane and had to come to a stop under NASCAR rules. Briscoe would fall to 14th place. Other drivers also missed the chicane, including Ross Chastain and Justin Haley, who were running fourth and fifth, also had to stop. Noah Gragson also missed the chicane on the fifth lap. He was running third and dropped to fourth after he stopped.

Chicane troubles early for @KauligRacing! @RossChastain and @Justin_Haley_ both come to a complete stop after they miss the frontstretch bus stop. pic.twitter.com/HE9uPRcWQy — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

On lap 13, Ross Chastain was running third when his car suffered a broken transmission and stopped at turn 7. At the same time, Justin Haley hit the rear chicane entering into turns nine and ten and went off the track. Jeremey Clements also went off the track and hit Haley, bringing out the first caution of the day.

Before the caution came out, AJ Allmendinger came to pit; however, the gas can could not be removed from the car before he started to exit his box and was given a one-lap penalty.

LIFTOFF for @Justin_Haley_! 😳 The No. 11 catches the grass in the backstretch chicane and suffers major damage! pic.twitter.com/YI3gMKUF4w — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

After the caution was thrown for those incidents on track, Austin Cindric and five others stayed out while everyone else pitted. He would lead the field back to green with two to go in stage one. At turn one, Daniel Hemric got turned by the No. 93 car of Myatt Snider when he got into his bumper and sent him skipping into the fence with front end damage. Upfront, Austin Cindric would win stage one.

A tough year continues for @DanielHemric as he get tagged from behind and into the fence at the end of Stage One. (📺: NBCSN) pic.twitter.com/znXaA0h7mK — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

During the caution, Austin Cindric, Justin Allgaier, and eight others pitted while everyone else stayed out. Noah Gragson was the new leader as stage two was underway on lap 18. The leader was in trouble Gragson spun at turn five and hit the tire wall, and Jeffrey Earnhardt was slow on the track as the third caution came out. AJ Allmendinger got the free pass.

From the lead, to wrecked for @NoahGragson. 😣 The @DISupdates Road Course bites another contender. pic.twitter.com/TtRUj4Prb0 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

During this caution, Justin Allgaier pitted with a flat tire along with Noah Gragson, and three others. The race resumed on lap 20 with Chase Briscoe in the lead. The restart would only last a couple of laps when Josh Williams spun at turn nine sliding on the grass and taking out some signs leaving debris on the track to bring out the fourth caution of the day. Jeremy Clements got the free pass. During the caution, only five drivers pitted, including Noah Gragson, and Myatt Snider.

Gonna be tough to pick up the spare on this one. 🎳 (we're so sorry for this tweet) pic.twitter.com/zK8E6oFhzy — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

The race resumed with eight laps to go in stage two. Austin Cindric got by Harrison Burton for second place and began to chase down Chase Briscoe. Cindric caught Briscoe, and the two exchanged the lead with Cindric taking the lead at turn six only for Briscoe to take it back on the last lap of the stage at turn six. Briscoe would win stage two and afterward got a water bottle thrown at him by Cindric.

STAGE WINNER: What a battle for the Stage Two victory as @ChaseBriscoe5 holds off @AustinCindric! A preview of the end of this one? 👀 pic.twitter.com/dEUrZaAjRz — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

"Stay hydrated, @ChaseBriscoe5." — @AustinCindric (📺: NBCSN) pic.twitter.com/CNy4quXQd7 — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

During the caution, Josh Bilicki and Scott Heckert stayed out while everyone else pitted. Josh Bilicki was the new leader as the race got back underway on lap 33 to start the final stage. Bilicki would lose the lead to Chase Briscoe with Austin Cindric remaining in fourth place. Riley Herbst was running in the fourth position before he got into trouble a couple of times, once for spinning on the backstretch losing three spots to seventh, and again at turn six losing the eighth spot and dropping to thirteenth. On lap 43, Earl Bamber hit the chicane at turn nine and went into the grass before coming to a stop to bring out the sixth caution.

A promising day comes to an end for @earlbamber after this tough trip through the bus stop. 😭 Less than 10 to go on NBCSN and streaming at https://t.co/593lUVrknA! pic.twitter.com/YNABlTXX6O — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

During the caution, Myatt Snider, Kyle Weatherman, and Bayley Currey stayed out while everyone else went to pit road. Bayley Currey was the leader as the race resumed with six laps to go. On the restart, the whole field tried to enter turn one together; this caused several cars to make contact with one another. Then Preston Pardus got hit from behind by Chase Briscoe, which caused him to hit Josh Bilicki entering turn three, and out came caution number seven. Briscoe suffered damage and would finish 29th. Before the caution came out, Brandon Jones took the lead, and Kody Vanderwal got the free pass.

"They ALL miss the corner!" Accurate. 😬 📺: NBCSN | @DISupdates pic.twitter.com/iyYFRffhRw — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

During the caution, seven cars, including AJ Allmendinger, came to pit road while everyone else stayed out. The race resumed with four laps to go with Brandon Jones in the lead. Jones would lose the lead to Austin Cindric at turn six. On the same lap, AJ Allmendinger trying to improve his position got into Justin Allgaier. Both cars were able to continue the race. Upfront, Cindric had pulled away from Brandon Jones and would win the UNOH 188 by 7.108 seconds over Brandon Jones. With the win, Cindric now has five wins for the season and leads the playoff point standings.

Yeah … he's been pretty good lately. Retweet to congratulate @AustinCindric on winning the #UNOH188 on the @DISupdates Road Course! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/h6KX3eCAdP — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

After the race, Justin Allgaier had a few words with AJ Allmendinger as Allmendinger admitted it was his fault on the wreck. Allgaier was having none of it.

Frustration boils over after a long day on the @DISupdates Road Course.@AJDinger | @J_Allgaier pic.twitter.com/ZQox4mzaCu — NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 15, 2020

The rest of the top ten finishers were Noah Gragson third, AJ Allmendinger fourth, Andy Lally fifth, Jeremy Clements sixth, Riley Herbst seventh, Harrison Burton eighth, Justin Allgaier ninth, and Myatt Snider tenth. There were seven lead changes from six drivers and seven cautions for eight laps.

In the playoff point standings, Austin Cindric (5 wins) is first followed by Chase Briscoe in second (5 wins), Noah Gragson third (2 wins), Brandon Jones fourth (2 wins), Harrison Burton fifth (2 wins), and Justin Haley sixth (1 win) are all locked in the playoffs. Right now, in the playoffs are Ross Chastain seventh, Justin Allgaier eighth, Michael Annett ninth, Riley Herbst tenth, Ryan Sieg eleventh, and Brandon Brown twelfth. Outside looking in are Jeremy Clements thirteenth, Myatt Snider fourteenth, Alex Labbe fifteenth, and Josh Williams sixteenth.

Next up for the Xfinity Series is a trip to the Monster Mile at Dover International Speedway for the Drydene 200 next Saturday at 12:30 pm on NBCSN.

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